"The only thing worse than Evil, is apathy..."

Chapter 3. Worse than Evil

"Go and see them for yourself" Those were the words Minaka offered her when she sardonically questioned him if all humans were wastes of flesh.

Most of her brethren worried over when they would be released, finding their destined mate being the primary goal in their mundane lives.

A polar opposite, She never worried, so much as anticipated when she would jump back into battle. Selfish ambition and Bloodlust being the pinnacle of her existence. Truly, the sekirei plan to her was just a way of breaking in her new nodachi.

Standing on the edge of a tower, high above the streets of Shinto Teito. Karasuba, The Black Sekirei looked down at all the ants going about their business. One as unremarkable as the other, none being able to amount to anything close to be called her ashikabi.

'Am I supposed to find my supposed destined one amongst this trash?' She scoffed while shaking her head at the thought.

The midday sun high in the sky, she could see everything in sharp clarity. From a boy finding out he failed his entrance exam amongst a crowd of students, to a motorcyclist speeding down the street and almost crashing into a white limo. She found amusement in watching their daily strifes.

The Black Sekirei has tasted defeat before, Not in combat but in matters of the heart. It's because of this reason that she's lost her way, even if she herself doesn't realize it...

But they say victory is sweetest after having known defeat.

Suddenly, she felt a faint flash of heat coming from the direction of one of the city's more active zones. 'What is this?' Her eyes narrow and a faint snarl starts forming on her lips. 'It can't be!' She thinks to herself.

She refused to be effected by such emotions as the ones being stirred in her heart at the sensation.

Her grip on her nodachi tightening until her knuckles whitened from the pressure, she leapt towards the direction of this insult. One thought on her mind, the thought of death.

TSUKUNE

He yawned as he disembarked from his flight, the trip having exhausted him with errant thoughts and lapses of boredom. He hailed a taxi as he exited the front doors of the airport, the sun blinding him momentarily, his vision adjusts as he takes in what he can see of the city. A tall dark tower being the spotlight of the city's horizon.

The taxi driver turns in his seat and offers a kind smile, "Where ya headed son?"

"Uh.. Just drive me around popular parts of the city. I want to get a feel of it" Tsukune's face showing indecision as he realizes he doesn't know much about this city or where he can even get a hotel room.

"Sure thing, boss! By the way, I'm Kadoko" He says while looking at the rear view mirror.

"Tsukune.." He replied curtly, not wanting to make friends just yet.

"Ah, nice to meet you Tsukune-kun! What brings you to this fine city? Business or pleasure?" His question catching him off guard Tsukune isn't quite sure what to say.

"Pleasure, I guess. I'm just here to take in the sights" It wasn't a complete lie. He was interested in seeing more of the city and with its size he's sure it had a lot to offer.

"Oh, so you're touring? Well, you couldn't have picked a better place! Allow me to welcome you to Shinto Teito!"

"Thank you, Kadoko-San" His eyes drawn to all the new restaurants and shops as they flew by. A comfortable silence filling the cab, with the stereo faintly playing a melody. Kadoko's chipper attitude had a calming effect on Tsukune as he watched the scenery pass by.

They passed an arboretum, as he caught glimpses of the people bustling about. What seemed to be an older woman dressed in a lab coat was walking around holding hands with a child whose long blonde hair almost reached her ankles.

"Strange.." He thought to himself. Guessing it was some sort of program for sick children, he let his eyes wander off into the distance.

Spotting something high in the sky Tsukune suddenly speaks up, "Can you drop me off here, Kadoko-San? I think I can find my way around now."

"Are ya sure Tsukune-Kun?" Worry In his eyes, Kadoko is reluctant to let this outsider venture out on his own. "I can have you in front of a decent hotel in a good neighborhood In less than 5 minutes!"

"No, that's quite alright, Kadoko-San. Here is fine" As he exited the cab and paid the driver with a decent tip, he was about to walk away when Kadoko called out to him.

"Tsukune-Kun! If you ever find yourself in the wind district, Visit my cousins restaurant, 'The Golden Nugget'! And tell em I sent ya, his place has some of the best food around!" Waving goodbye, Kadoko puts his cab in gear and drives off.

"Thanks", Tsukune says aloud, touched by the kind demeanor of the humble taxi driver before beginning his trek through the city streets.

The presence of danger not forgotten in his mind...